Reader's Review

[erastes]

I sent Chris Smith a copy of the ARC of Transgressions because she's been very good to me recently and she read the entire thing in three hours - here's her review.

I don't expect everyone to like the book - it's a much darker read than Standish (and I know some people who thought that was dark!) and for those who have come to me through more polite Regencies like Frost Fair and Hard and Fast, it will come as a bit of a culture shock--but Chris' reaction is almost exactly what I was hoping for.  If I can affect just some people in the same way I'll be happy. It was a dark period in English history, so it wouldn't do to make it fluffy. And seriously, you wouldn't want Erastes to do fluffy, right?

Anyway, thank you so much, Chris.

Le Malfoy has returned, after 24 hours on the razzle. No alien pirate abduction, then apparently. Either that or it was just a short flight.

Comments

[aunty_marion]

If it was pirates, he'll tip you the black spot shortly.

If it was aliens, watch out for an unexpected pregnancy.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'm just a ruddy hotel. He scoffed two pouches in quick succession - took the key to his room and buggered off upstairs.

Don't alien pirates feed their guests anymore?

[aunty_marion]

Good lord, no. Far too busy vivisecting them and/or getting them pregnant with alien babies!

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

Erastes is the Stephen King of the MM Romance world

Eep.

This book isn't for me then, because I'm one of those people who think Standish is dark ^^;;

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It can't help it, really - it's the English Civil War - and if there hadn't been a war it would have been a hard time to write about.

[crawling-angel.livejournal.com]

All hail the return of Lucius the Wanderer.

Stephen Erastes :) Actually, I watched Sleepwalkers today. All those kitties, hehe.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I admit not knowing about Stephen King. (and I'd prefer Erastes King, or Emperor...) other than Carrie! She makes it sound like a horror story, but it's really not. Has some horrific elements to it, but there are witchfinders, so hopefully people will realise that possibility before they buy it!!

[the-sea-to.livejournal.com]

Okay Cesear Erastes :P

And in a way it is a horror story. You do what King does, take something perfectly normal and start twisting and see where it ends up. There is little more terrifying to me.

[zamaxfield.livejournal.com]

*taps foot and looks at calendar* I have it on pre-order at Amazon because of free (because I paid a lot for it) shipping. I'm a patient person. Really. No, really.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It's a bit scary people waiting for it.

Thanks!

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

He's been away three years and they have time shift capacity as well as interstellar flight.

You know nuffink.

:)

[aunty_marion]

Ands rejuvenation, to make sure he looks no older than when he strolled out...

[jessewave.livejournal.com]

So Erastes
I thought Standish was dark. What do you think I would say about Transgressions when I read and review it?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I can't say that I'm not concerned about reviews--especially from readers who have come to me from Frost Fair and Hard and Fast; but this is necessarily apocalyptic. "As Meat Loves Salt" is dark in tone from start to finish - and that works because Jacob's mind is already shattered (not that I'm comparing Trans to AMLS, I am not worthy) but Transgressions is the story of two young men who live (as we do) in "normal life" and have nothing much more to worry about than avoiding chores and whether they can get on with each other, and then their world blows apart. I can't imagine what my country would be like if we had a civil war here now, but I'd say it would be much the same now.

I could compare it to Independence Day or Gone with the Wind in a peculiar way where things start sunny, and things get slowly darker and darker and darker and hopeless... but end positively despite much having been destroyed. And the ending is certain, not more "let the reader make their mind up", at least!